Snail/Whelk ID please.

[ZedLepelin]

I am quarantining some Florida live rock I bought from live rock and reef. I have already found some asterina a Eucnid worm and of course aptasia, but the thing I am curious about is this snail I found, there are a couple of them I've seen. I have the feeling it's a predator can anyone tell me if I need to remove? couple weak phone pics attached

 

[pagojoe]

It's a predator, but...it's a worm eater.

 

[ZedLepelin]

hmm, I like my worms, may have to give them their own tank. Thanks for the I'd

 

[ZedLepelin]

any idea of a name so I can further research it?

 

[Bent]

Those are the same whelks I had with my tbs rock.

They will eat clams and snails. I saw one of them destroy a turbo snail. They all got the boiling water treatment.

 

[BrandonFlorida]

I have the same snails but have yet to see them do anything destructive.. Being my tank is lightly stocked I haven't really been concerned with them yet. Easy enough to get out thou if needed...

 

[pagojoe]

There are half a dozen different miters (or "mitriform gastropods") that look about like your snail. Without a better pic it's hard to give you a species-level ID, but I think it's either Vexillum gemmatum or Vexillum puella. Both are variable in the amount of white markings displayed. There is also an Engina species that can look almost identical as a juvenile (from a distance) but it doesn't grow large enough that it's likely to be a problem.

Then again, I could be full of crap, and it might eat everything in your tank (except aiptasia).

Cheers,



Don

 

[ZedLepelin]

Okay, so I got another one. This guy has been in my tank since it was setup about 3.5 years ago. I have only seen him a couple times mostly when I've been moving rocks, he is surely nocturnal. After wondering about him being reef safe the last couple days and wanting to id him there he is plain as day waiting to be caught. What do you think, safe?

 

[ZedLepelin]

Another pic

 

[ZedLepelin]

Oh, and he originated from Fiji rock if that helps

 

[pagojoe]

Nope. That's a different species, Pollia fumosus. It will potentially eat other snails.

 

[R33FM4N_RC]

Looks like a whelk or conch to me. More likely a whelk since they are more prevalent.

That being said, he may never bother anything, but I wouldn't risk it. BTW, some whelks and conches eat algae, but I don't know enough to tell you which ones.

 

[Shawn O]

Regardless of species, it's a nice looking critter. I like it's siphon's spots.